Zimbabwe Activates Disaster Plans As Cyclone Season Looms

Civil Protection Unit (CPU) director Nathan Nkomo said the department has activated its disaster management systems from national to local levels as the 2025/26 rainy season begins, with several cyclones expected to hit SADC countries.

Every year, the government, through the CPU, puts together a contingency plan ahead of the rainy season.

The plan is designed to tackle weather-related hazards like cyclones, floods, and heat waves, helping the country deal with the impacts of climate change.

Nkomo said forecasts from the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) and regional weather experts suggest that multiple cyclones could affect the SADC region, and the government is taking no chances. Said Nkomo:

“One of the presentations at the workshop was from MSD, which, together with regional weather forecasters, predicted a total of nine cyclones to affect parts of the southern region of the continent, but only six are predicted to be felt in the SADC region.

“Cyclones typically affect Zimbabwe between February and March when the country receives the highest amount of rain, so the Minister of Local Government and Public Works has directed CPU to activate all its disaster management system from the national level down to the grassroots level.

“All line ministries that are responsible for disaster management are also in sync with the CPU’s multi-contingency plan for the 2025/26 rainfall season.”

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